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REL: Montenegro aims to close EU membership negotiations by the end of the year

Politiko 2026-04-22 16:47:38

REL: Montenegro aims to close EU membership negotiations by the end of the year

Montenegro has taken a step forward towards membership in the European Union, after the bloc's states on April 22 agreed to start work on the accession treaty, officials said.

Ambassadors from the 27 EU member states decided to establish an “ad hoc working group” to draft the accession treaty – a technical but key step on the path to membership, according to officials.

"We are convinced that this will send a strong message that membership is within reach for enlargement partners," said a spokesman for Cyprus, the country currently holding the EU presidency.

The spokesperson said that this decision was made during a meeting in Brussels.

Montenegro, along with Albania, are the countries that have made the most progress in the region on the path to the EU, and are expected to become the first countries to join the EU since Croatia was admitted to the bloc in 2013.

Podgorica has concluded negotiations on 14 out of 35 so-called “chapter groups” – rounds of talks organized by area, from taxation to environmental policy – ​​raising hopes that it could become an EU member in the coming years.

"Extremely good news is coming from Brussels," said Montenegro's Minister for European Affairs, Maida Gorqević.

The establishment of the working group is "yet another confirmation that we are on the right track for Montenegro to become the 28th member of the European Union by 2028," she added.

Authorities in Montenegro aim to conclude membership negotiations by the end of this year, in order to pave the way for the signing and ratification of the accession treaty, a process that, based on past practices, takes from one to three years./ REL

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